H5 bird flu found in four sea lions, including a pup, on SA islands

South Australia’s sea lion population is increasingly being impacted by the H5 bird flu, with four of the mammals – including one pup – testing positive for the virus.

The sea lions were among several found dead on the Pages Islands, between the South Australian mainland and Kangaroo Island, a key breeding location for the animals.

There has also been a mass mortality event involving crested terns on the Pages, with about 900 of the birds found dead.

SA Environment Minister Emily Bourke said out of 10 deceased sea lions available for testing, three adults and one pup returned positive results.

The results bring the total number of South Australian sea lions with bird flu up to five, following a positive case at Kangaroo Island's Seal Bay last week.

There have been significant fears from environmentalists that the virus could devastate the sea lion population, which is recorded as endangered on international threatened species lists.